U.S. military cycling team to compete in Tour of Somerville

Memorial Day in Somerset County has found a whole new way to be patriotic. The Tour of Somerville, which takes place Monday, May 28, has always honored veterans during the family festival and cycling competitions. Adding to this spirit, Middle Earth, the event organizer, announced that the U.S. Military Cycling Team will be competing Saturday’s road race, Sunday’s professional race, and Monday’s Tour of Somerville.

Furman Kugler won the inaugural Tour of Somerville in 1940 and repeated his victory in 1941. Carl Anderson, a friend of Kugler’s, won the Tour in 1942. World War II suspended the Tour from 1943-1946, and its Memorial Day date took on a sad irony when Kugler and Anderson were both killed while serving with the Armed Forces overseas. Resumed in 1947, the Senior Men’s 50-mile race of the Tour of Somerville was officially renamed the Kugler-Anderson Memorial, in honor of the two past winners that died for their country. Now the U.S. Military Cycling Team will race at speeds up to 40 mph through downtown Somerville in the very race that honors these veterans.

The U.S. Military Cycling Team is the official team that represents the United States Armed Forces in national and international competition. The athletes on this team are all in the U.S. military – either active duty, national guard or reserve. Representing the team are Dan Cassidy, a captain in the U.S. Air Force, Jay ShalekBriski, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Andy Chocha, a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, Jason Peterson, a captain in the U.S. Air Force, and Sunny Gill, a lieutenant in the U.S. Public Health Service.

Befitting of its importance and prestige as the longest running bicycle race in the United States, the Tour is on the National Race Calendar. Many of the best cyclists from around the world are scheduled to compete in the Tour. In addition to the U.S. Military Cycling Team, spectators will have the opportunity to see professionals competing from Team Jamis-Sutter Home, Champion System Pro Cycling Team, and Team Type 1 Cycling Team.

Middle Earth will be selling raffle tickets and accepting donations of used cell phones at the races to raise funds for their youth programs. The winner of the 50/50 raffle will be picked on Monday at 4 p.m. at the Tour’s finish line. Donation boxes for used cell phones will be available by all race courses. Phones can be in any form or fashion – broken, obsolete, working or non-working.

Middle Earth is the event organizer and beneficiary. The agency is a nonprofit that has served youth for almost 40 years. Middle Earth’s programs offer local children a safe environment where they can hang out with their friends, engage with caring adults who listen, obtain help with homework or employment searches, participate in fun group activities, and volunteer for community service opportunities. Their programs also teach basic life skills such as budgeting, cooking, obtaining a driver’s license, as well as positive decision making skills, acceptance of consequences for their actions, mentoring and leadership skills. All of their programs guide children in learning respect for themselves and others and choosing positive alternatives to gangs, drugs and crime.

The Tour of Somerville would not be possible without the invaluable help of its sponsors: Ferrero, U.S.A., Sanofi U.S., Somerset Medical Center, PSE&G, the Downtown Somerville Alliance, the Somerville Bicycle Shop, and Aton Computing. For additional information about the Tour of Somerville, contact Amy DiIorio at Middle Earth at 908-725-7223 or visit tourofsomerville.org.